William Adolphus Knell

William Adolphus Knell (1801-1875) was a successful British maritime painter of the nineteenth century.

His paintings are found in many major galleries across Britain, for example his 'Battle of Camperdown' which is at the National Museums of Scotland. The Greenwich Maritime Museum also has examples of W A Knell's work.

File:William Augustus Knell -Battle of Camperdown.jpg

The Battle of Camperdown, William Adolphus Knell, pre-1875, National Museums Scotland

Life

Knell was born in 1801 at Carisbrooke in Hampshire and by 1825 had already exhibited his works at the Royal Academy. Knell focused on maritime and particularly naval art and soon built up a successful practice, exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy, British Institution and the Society of British Artists. He was particularly praised in 1847 for his The Battle off Cape St. Vincent, 14 February 1797, which was purchased for the nation at £200. He was twice commissioned by Queen Victoria for paintings and many of his artworks are held in galleries across Britain.

According to the 1861 Census, the family lived in St Pancras, London. William Adolphus aged 58 was married to Susan; William Calcott aged 32 b c 1829, was married to Maria and Adolphus b c 1849 was aged 12. This conflicts with other sources which state that William Adolphus married in 1846 and his sons William Calcott Knell and Adolphus Knell were both successful painters in their own right.

He died on 9 July 1875 at his home in Kentish Town and was buried at Abney Park Cemetery.

Both WA Knell and Adolphus painted a significant number of small picture of boats at dusk and in the moonlight. Many of these smaller pictures are on panel rather than on canvas which has the advantage that the harder surface allows for higher detail.

In addition, the bbc.co.uk.arts/yourpaintings site at February 2012 shows 24 pictures, 10 of which are signed as 'Adolphus Knell'. This does cause some confusion because the style and the content of both father and son are quite similar; although the paintings of WC Knell are different. Also WikiGallery, which is not part of the WikiMedia family, at February 2012 has pictures for WA Knell (25) and A Knell (15) and WC Knell (16).

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  A Brixham trawler

• William Adolphus Knell - Indiamen in the Thames.jpg

  Indiamen in the Thames

• William Adolphus Knell, 1859 - Fishing Boats in a Calm.jpg

  Fishing Boats in a Calm

Notes

There is a seascape by this painter in the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John,New Brunswick,Canada